Her father, Moritz Eichberg, was a cantor in the city and, along with his wife Eleanor, raised a musically talented family.

Julie’svocal abilities were identified at a young age, and she was enrolled at the Stuttgart Conservatorium.

Along the way

Julie Eichbergcame to America when she was seventeen, joining her sister Pauline, a piano teacher, in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1866, Julie Eichberg was wed to Jacob H. Rosewald, a renowned violinist and conductor.

The couple performed widely in Baltimore’s Jewish community. [Click Here]

Julie Eichberg Rosewaldwas active in opera for the next twenty years, including a stint with the Kellogg English Opera Company, a European tour, and a prima donna role in the Emma Abbot Company, under the direction of her husband.

San Francisco

In 1884, the Rosewalds moved from Baltimore to the comparatively mild climate of San Francisco, primarily because of Jacob’s failing health.

Julie planned to retire from the stage and teach singers involved in the city’s thriving opera and concert scene.

But something unprecedented occurred in August of that year.

Cantor Max Wolffof Temple Emanu-Elpassed away, and the congregation was in need of a quick study to conduct the fast approaching High Holiday services.

The progressive temple hired Julie Eichberg Rosewaldto serve as its Cantor, marking the first time on record that a woman led synagogue services in the United States.

“The services of the various synagogues on Rosh Hashanah were thoroughly in accord with the solemnity of the occasion….

“The singing was a feature of the service, Mrs. Rosewald at the Temple Emanu-El filling her arduous position with great credit.”

–The Jewish Progress, 1884

Though she was not officially trained as a cantor (cantorial investiture was opened to women in 1976), Julie Eichberg Rosewaldserved Temple Emanu-El, until 1893.

In that capacity, she directed choir rehearsals, collaborated with the organist, made musical selections, and sang solo parts during services.

According to Judith S. Pinnolis,who discovered this previously forgotten chapter of American Jewish and musical history, Julie Rosewaldearned the position due to a combination of factors, including the Hebrew and Judaic instruction she received from her cantor father, her classical music background (highly valued in Reform temples of the period), her Jewish musical experience in Baltimore, Emanu-El’s forward-thinking leadership, a young congregation that tolerated informalities, and the rise of the “New Woman” in late nineteenth-century America—a proto-feminist awareness of women’s independence and professional aspirations.

Cantor Julie Eichberg Rosewald

Temple Emanu-El hired Cantor Edward Starkin 1893.

Julie Rosewald also took a teaching position at Mills College Conservatory of Music,from 1894 to 1897.

Julie Rosewald earned notoriety as a premier vocal coach.

She published an instructional book, How Shall I Practice? Practical Suggestions to Students of Music(1891).

Family

In 1866, Julie Eichberg was wed to Jacob H. Rosewald.

Julie Eichberg Rosewalddiedin 1906, while on holiday in her native Germany.